FUNCTION

The Directorate: Mining and Mineral Policy Development is responsible for developing mineral policies, norms and standards as well as draft and amend mineral and related legislation.

APPROVED LEGISLATION

The Geoscience Amendment Act 16 of 2010 was assented to and signed into law by the President on 1 December 2010. The main objectives of the Amendment Act are to mandate the Council for Geoscience to be custodians of geotechnical information, to be national advisory authority in respect of geohazards related to infrastructure and development, and to undertake reconnaissance operations and prospecting research.

LEGISLATION UNDER REVIEW

The Mineral and Petroleum Resources Laws General Amendment Bill 2011.
This Bill amends both the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act 28 of 2002 and the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Amendment Act 49 of 2008. The objects of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Amendment Act are to strengthen the current construct of the legislation, fortify the penalty provisions, to streamline the administrative process and to provide for a single regulatory system.

The Diamonds General Laws Amendment Bill 2011.
Amend the Diamonds Act 58 of 1986, the Diamonds Amendment Act 29 of 2005 and the Diamonds Second Amendment act 30 of 2005 facilitate access to funding and markets by diamond cutters and polishers, improve on the composition of the Board, align the legislation with other related pieces of legislation, define and refine concepts to remove ambiguities, make provision for offences and penalties and for an arbitration process, to improve the regulatory system and provide for matters connected therewith.

The Precious Metals Amendment Bill 2011.
This Bill amends the Precious Metals Act, 37 of 2005, so as provide and improve on definition of words and expressions to remove ambiguities, streamline administrative processes, improve the regulatory framework and provide for matters connected therewith.

REGULATIONS

The Directorate is currently developing regulations to the Geoscience Amendment Act 16 of 2010.The Regulations to the MPRDA, the Precious Metals Act and the Diamonds Act will be reviewed and amended immediately after the promulgation of the respective amendment Bills.

POLICY DOCUMENTS

The Amended Broad Based Socio-Economic Empowerment Charter for the South African Mining and Minerals Industry (PDF).
The Amended Charter was adopted on 13 September 2010 and gazzetted on 20 September 2010. The primary objectives of the Amended Charter are to promote equitable access to the nation’s mineral resources to all people of South Africa, to substantially and meaningfully expand opportunities for HDSA’s to enter the mining and minerals industry and to benefit from the exploitation of the nations mineral resources, to promote employment and advance the social and economic welfare of mine communities and labour sending areas etc.